title: Biofeedback stimulation in patients with age-related macular degeneration: comparison between 2 different methods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate changes in patient's visual performance after rehabilitation training with 2 different biofeedback training programs offered by the MP-1 microperimeter. Spontaneous retinal location of preferred retinal loci (PRLs) and fixation stability are not always optimal for best visual performances. MP-1 microperimeter biofeedback techniques have been suggested as modalities for training for better fixation stability and to find a better location of the new PRL in a more useful area of the retina in nonoptimal cases. The MP-1 microperimeter offers different biofeedback strategies, such as acoustic biofeedback and structured light stimulus plus acoustic biofeedback.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty subjects affected by age-related macular degeneration with absolute central scotoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standard protocol of examination before and after visual rehabilitation training was performed on all study subjects. Assessment included demographics data, visual acuity, fixation stability, retinal sensitivity, and reading speed. Rehabilitation training was performed with standard and structured stimulus biofeedback. The whole sample was divided into 2 groups of 15 patients attending the 2 different stimulation training biofeedback.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean reading speed was found to be significantly increased for both groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). Also, a statistically significant improvement of fixation stability was registered for both groups (p < 0.01). Only patients trained with the flickering pattern biofeedback stimulation increased retinal sensitivity (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both regular biofeedback and flickering pattern biofeedback training seem to improve visual functions. More benefits seem to be accrued, however, with flickering pattern biofeedback training.
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Services and Research for the Prevention of Blindness and Rehabilitation of Low Vision Patients, International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, Italia onlus, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: f.amore@iapb.it.
authors.forename: Filippo M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Amore
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paliotta
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piscopo
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turco
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reibaldi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D057092:Geographic Atrophy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011932:Reading; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012607:Scotoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D058609:Visual Field Tests / Q000379:methods; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology